Gorgeous Roof Garden Atop This $3M Flatiron Loft Has an Outdoor Cinema and Cinematic Views

As much as we love lofts, they’re sometimes better in theory than reality; they’re either too slick and highly customized as someone’s dream palace, or they’re a little too raw and lack privacy and separation of space. And their rooftops, while huge, are often gritty urban spaces. In the penthouse loft at 22 East 18th Street asking $2.995 million, you can have your cake in a custom kitchen worthy of a newly-minted luxury apartment and eat it in a verdant enchanted roof garden high above the Flatiron district.

This one- (convertible to two-) bedroom co-op has authentic 1900 cast-iron loft bones, details and all, state-of-the-art interiors and mechanical systems (central air and sound and a private elevator to name just a few), plus tons of light and, perhaps best of all, a magical common roof garden with self-irrigated plantings, benches and a custom outdoor cinema–and movie-worthy views of the city.

Located in a sweet spot between Union Square and Madison Square Park, this embodiment of modern loft living is accessed by key-locked elevator. Light streaming in through walls of windows and a massive skylight frames architectural details rarely preserved to this level of quality, including original tin ceilings, exposed brick, ceiling beams, Corinthian columns, original heavy metal shutters oversized south-facing windows.

The Boffi chef’s kitchen is organized around a central island, creating a natural gathering space that’s open to the dining area and directly under a large, operable skylight. A Miele/Subzero/Gaggenau/Bosch stainless steel appliance package gets down to business.

A clean and spacious master suite is about as loft-like as it gets, but with the added indulgences of custom closets and an en-suite bath.

The Boffi custom bathroom features a stall shower, Pietra Serena tiles and another skylight. The listing calls it “the perfect oasis in the urban jungle.”

The second bedroom is currently being used as an (envy-inspiring) office that’s open to the main space, but it would be easy to create a sun-filled private bedroom here. Additional creature comforts in this mint-renovated home include a vented Bosch washer/dryer, central AC with a Nest thermostat, Bowers & Wilkins speakers, recessed lighting and a built-in custom bookcase.

But the most perfect part of this downtown gem may be the building’s dreamy rooftop garden, accessible by a private staircase within the apartment. Up here the city views are mesmerizing and the landscaping–a custom renovation by the owner, who clearly valued this surprising oasis–resembles a mini High Line. You’ll find zen-style paving rocks, a floating Garapa deck, built-in benches and built-in irrigation, plus a “custom outdoor cinema,” which–though we don’t know the exact details–sounds like a great way to spend a summer at the movies.

This six-story pet-friendly co-op building has only two apartments per floor; the recently-renovated lobby is finished with reclaimed wood and poured concrete floors. Location-wise this area is downtown’s new darling, near top home and fashion shopping, the destination restaurants, markets and hotels of NoMad, Union Square Park and Greenmarket, Madison Square Park, the Villages East and West and just about every subway line in the city.

[Listing: 22 East 18th Street, Unit PH6B by Nick Gavin, Jeremiah Doyle and Josh Doyle for Compass]

[Via CityRealty]

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Images courtesy of Compass.